Collecting of BARBED WIRE
Barbed wire is perhaps one of the most significant products ever invented. It evolved through some dramatic changing times and survived to where it became the most sought-after fencing material to date. Fortunes were made and lost during the peak of the invention period of the 1860's to 1890's. Hundreds and hundreds of wire types, styles and variations were patented and manufactured to meet the ever-changing needs of an expanding West.
The transformation and mass settlement of the American West began during the post civil war era of 1865.
Of all the various types of fencing materials, barbed wire emerged as the most practical fence material for fencing small and large tracts of land.
Other materials were either too expensive to purchase, cumbersome to handle, ineffective by design, labour intensive to construct or too costly to maintain.
Barbed wire, sometimes pronounced "Bob Whar" played a major role in
establishing boundaries to control man and livestock.
Wood, stone, hedges, bricks, steel and earth have all been used as fencing materials at one time or another. For more than a hundred and twenty-nine years barbed wire has been the subject of controversy and turmoil It was directly responsible for range wars, fence laws, cattle dying, death and destruction of property the likes never recorded, as well as the closure of the open range.
The barbed wire fence met head-on with the open range culture of the cattle barons, cattle rustling and fence cutting wars were not uncommon.
Famous cattle and wagon trails such as the Santa Fe, Western, Goodnight-Loving, Oregon and many others were used to drive cattle to new markets as well, they carried newcomers by wagon train to the new lands of the Western frontier. In a very short time these famous trails came to a close.
Barbed wire fencing and the advancement of Western settlement changed the landscape forever.
The wire has often been referred to as the "Devil's Rope", it rips, tears, and catches on almost everything it comes into contact with.
Barbed wire was basically divided into two categories, "Vicious" and "Humane". The former of course, were designed to pierce the hide or flesh of the animal causing sever injury, and sometimes death.
The latter to avoid injury.
By late 1881 the last of the major cattle drives from Texas to northern railhead cities such as Abilene and Dodge City, Kansas, came to an end. Barbed wire fences were everywhere, hardly a section of land was left untouched. Barbed wire fences did not always cause violence, but everywhere it was erected the closure of the open range culture was brought even closer.
Barbed wire manufacturing was generally centered around De Kalb, Illinois in the 1860's. From 1867 through 1895 it is estimated that well over 700 design patents were issued for barbed wire. The first patent was issued to Lucian B. Smith on June 25, 1867. It was a single strand wire with wood or steel cast cylindrical spools, evenly spaced apart.
Each spool had four
straight, sharply cut barbs fixed to it at 90 degrees from each other in a pattern of a cross. The spools rotated upon contact. It was also estimated that between 1874 and 1950 barbed wire production and sales ranged from ten thousand pound to almost a half a billion pounds of wire. Wire was sold by the rail car load.
Barbed wire collecting began in the 1950's some 83 years after its invention and introduction to the Western frontier.
As the awareness of the different designs of fence wire increased around the country, there emerged an interest in collecting, and eventually the trading of wires, 18" in length began. Wire collecting has spread throughout the entire United States and Canada. Present day collecting has become more of wall art with many examples of barbed wire encased and framed with Glass.
Wire displays can be seen at Country fairs, Rodeos, Antique shops & shows. There are museums throughout the country dedicating special rooms or areas for exhibiting antique barbed wire thus keeping alive a rich and intriguing Western heritage and culture.
